=?x-unknown?q?18628=3A__Bellegarde-Smith=3A__STATEMENT_BY_FEL?==?x-unknown?q?IPE_P=C9REZ_ROQUE_ON_HAITI_=28fwd=29?=

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: P D Bellegarde-Smith <pbs@csd.uwm.edu>

>
>STATEMENT BY FELIPE PÉREZ ROQUE, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF CUBA, AT THE
>III SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF
>CARIBBEAN STATES
>Panama City, 12 February 2004
>
>
>Distinguished Ministers and Heads of Delegations:
>
>I have instructions from my Government to speak at this Ministerial Meeting
>of the Association of Caribbean States, not about Cuba - which though
>blockaded and harassed will not be, however, subdued or forced to relinquish
>its dreams of justice and liberty - but about the situation in Haiti.
>
>Cuba believes that the international community cannot leave Haiti alone. The
>social situation is worsening. The old problems derived from colonialism and
>exploitation are compounded by new, pressing difficulties relating to the
>unjust and excluding international economic order.
>
>Cooperating with Haiti becomes a duty to all of us, its neighbors.
>
>As we speak, Cuba has a medical brigade in Haiti composed of 525
>cooperators, 332 of which are doctors. They are scattered in all of the
>country's departments and are responsible for 75% of the 8.3 million
>Haitians. In order to have an idea of the importance of their work, it must
>be known that Haiti relies on fewer than 2,000 physicians and almost 90% of
>them render their services in the capital of the country.
>
>In the last five years, the Cuban doctors have seen nearly 5 million
>Haitians in medical appointments, assisted almost 45,000 deliveries and
>performed 59,000 surgeries.
>
>In the areas covered by the Cuban doctors, the infant mortality rate in
>children under 1 year of age has dropped from 80 to 28 per 1,000 live
>births - and in children under 5 years of age, the rate has fallen from 159
>to 39 per 1,000 live births. The maternal mortality rate dropped from 523
>deaths to 259 per 100,000 live births.
>
>However, to have an idea of how much work needs to be done, I must recall
>that in Cuba, for example, the infant mortality rate in children under 1
>year of age is 6.3 per 1,000; in children under 5 years of age is 8 per
>1,000 and the maternal mortality rate is 39 per 100,000.
>
>In these years, over 370,000 people - 80% children - have been immunized.
>
>It is estimated that nearly 86,000 human lives have been saved by the Cuban
>health workers in Haiti.
>
>On the other hand, some 2,169 broken-down medical devices were repaired by
>the Cuban technicians.
>
>A total of 247 Haitian youths are currently studying in the Medical School
>founded in such country by Cuban professors, while another 372 are enrolled
>on medical scholarships in Cuba.
>
>In light of the current domestic tensions in that brotherly country - which
>are known to you and which caused the departure of a number of foreign
>residents - last Tuesday the 10th, our Government gave express instructions
>to our Embassy in Port-au-Prince to maintain in their positions, working on
>an ongoing basis, all the members of the Cuban medical brigade, anywhere in
>the country where these may be. Besides, given the obstacles that may arise
>in the availability of medications, on the 11th, Cuba sent a shipment of 525
>special sets of nearly 80 medications so that each Cuban medical cooperator
>can guarantee the fulfillment of their tasks.
>
>The Cuban medical personnel - that strictly abides by the principle of not
>interfering in the internal affairs of Haiti - is honorably complying with
>their noble mission of tending to the health of the Haitian people.
>
>In addition to this, Cuban technical assistance was instrumental in the
>reconstruction of the sugar mill of Darbonne, currently in its fourth sugar
>harvest with the support of 30 Cuban specialists. The sugar mill generates
>employment and guarantees electricity supply during the harvest period for
>the population of the area, which lacked that service before.
>
>On the other hand, 20 Cuban professors are providing advisory services for a
>radio-based literacy program that has been designed by our specialists. Some
>110,000 Haitians have already become literate - and the program will
>continue to grow. Cuba also donated the teaching materials, including the
>handbooks in French and Creole.
>
>Cuba is also providing its modest cooperation in other areas of Haiti. Thus,
>20 Cuban veterinarians and technicians are putting in place a sanitary
>control program and training Haitian staff. Another 10 technicians are
>helping consolidate the national aquaculture program, for which Cuba has
>freely delivered 42 million larvae already planted in the country's dams.
>Specialized personnel has also been trained in this area.
>
>Another 11 Cuban agricultural specialists are also working in Haiti as part
>of FAO's Food Security Program.
>
>Our country is also cooperating in other areas, such as culture and road
>construction.
>
>I can also state that the Cuban universities currently accommodate more than
>3,000 Caribbean youths. I am not saying this with any sense of haughtiness.
>I do so with modesty, as an indication of what a small and blockaded country
>like Cuba can do for other brotherly countries.
>
>The people of Cuba feel that they are doing their duty and also paying a
>debt of gratitude to the peoples of the Caribbean, that have been so
>steadfast in their unflinching friendship and solidarity towards Cuba.
>
>Apart from its internal difficulties, let us help Haiti at this crucial
>moment of its history - and let us not forget that the struggle of our
>Caribbean and Latin American peoples for their freedom started right there
>200 years ago!
>
>Thank you very much.